China’s top legislature ‘deliberates’ on new nominations, as leadership reshuffle stokes market turmoil
- The National People’s Congress (NPC) standing committee, which convened a meeting from Wednesday to Sunday, may have begun political appointments
- The NPC’s early approval of vice premiers could include those responsible for the economy, pandemic control, science and technology as well as foreign trade
Following days of market turmoil, all eyes are on the appointment of China’s top economic aides, who will be responsible for guiding the country through coming economic storms and continuing Xi Jinping’s grand modernisation strategy.
While Li Qiang, now China’s No 2 in the party hierarchy, will take the premiership in March, the naming of senior government roles might have already begun, enabling appointees to get to grips with economic challenges, plan policy priorities and ensure a seamless transition.
As of last year, the standing committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), which has convened a meeting from Wednesday to Sunday, was vested with the powers to approve vice-premier nominations and confirm some of the new economic team.
They have gathered to review laws, amendments, examine financial work and “deliberate on relevant [personnel] appointments and removals”, according to an official statement.
None of the current crop of State Council leaders, including Premier Li Keqiang, vice-premiers Han Zheng, Sun Chunlan, Hu Chunhua and Liu He, are likely to sit in the next cabinet.
Analysts do not expect one-for-one replacement this time around because new divisions of labour are needed to fit into Beijing’s development priorities, including dual circulation, tech innovation, pandemic control, stronger state-owned enterprises and common propriety – pillars of Xi’s road map to modernise the country by the middle of the century.
Ding Xuexiang is most likely to become the executive vice-premier, which is normally reserved for a member of the Politburo Standing Committee – China’s highest decision-making body. Ding, now ranked No 6 in the party hierarchy, is almost certain to get the position.